For Whom The Road Tolls, You Need Coins

LAKELAND -- If you use the Polk Parkway, keep plenty of loose change handy.

Starting today the Parkway will have fewer toll attendants.

"This is a business decision," said Christa Deason, a spokeswoman for the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, which operates the Parkway. "Sometimes it takes more to keep a collector there and run the air conditioner than what they take in during a day . . .This is the way we do it on other toll roads."

Worker cutbacks are taking place at toll booths around the state, resulting in a annual savings of about $500,000, said Joanne Hurley, another turnpike spokeswoman.

No toll collectors will lose their jobs, but the ranks -- many of them older workers -- will be reduced when someone resigns, gets fired or retires.

The Polk Parkway toll booth at Harden Boulevard will no longer be staffed beginning today, Deason said. The Harden booth joins Airport Road, Waring Road, Lakeland Highlands Road, State Road 540 and Old Dixie Highway as unattended at all times.

At these locations, motorists will need exact change, either 25 cents or 50 cents depending on the exit, or a SunPass transponder.

Workers have been manning the South Florida Avenue ramps, one each side, making change for 50-cent tolls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. That service will be reduced. Beginning today, the booths will be manned for four hours daily from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Deason said the three toll plazas, where the tolls are $1, will have fewer toll collectors. She said each plaza will have at least one collector on duty at all times.

The Ledger spoke with 10 Parkway drivers Thursday, including six who have SunPass transponders that allow them to pay ahead and then cruise through toll booths without stopping.

The drivers who didn't have a SunPass weren't pleased with the loss of toll attendants to make change.

"The government offers less and less service to make more and more money," said Phillip Kuhn, 67, who said he uses the Parkway to go to Orlando or Tampa.

"It's a huge inconvenience," said Rebecca Stout. "Typically, I have to get change" from an attendant.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Fernee Peters, 38. "A lot of times, I don't have the exact change. It's not something you think of ahead of time."

Lorraine Hawks, 48, said she uses the Parkway to take her son to George Jenkins High School and will wait to see whether the worker reduction costs her time.

Hawks' main concern was for workers.

"I think it's unfair," she said. "There are a lot of retirees who live in Florida, and a job like that offers them a chance to get out of the house and be busy. Some of them, I'm sure, are working to pay for their health insurance. This was a good opportunity to give retirees the opportunity to work."

Annette Maxwell, 57, said the reduction in staff won't be an inconvenience to her. "It's more of an incentive to get my SunPass out of the dresser drawer and use it," she said.

"If you've got a SunPass, it goes smoothly. Going through the line can be a hassle. Drivers on cell phones or people asking for directions can be annoying."

A SunPass can be purchased at www.sunpass.com.

Deason, the turnpike spokeswoman, said staff reductions are subject to change. "None of this is cast in stone. We listen to our customers."

She said reducing the number of toll collectors has nothing to do with Polk Parkway ridership, which is "doing just great"

In 2004, the Parkway collected daily average of 55,253 tolls for a total of $16.2 million. In 2005, the Parkway collected daily average of 62,638 tolls totaling $18.5 million.

Drivers without the correct change can go through a toll booth without paying, but their license plate is photographed.

These drivers can call 800749-7453 and make arrangement to pay the toll.

Drivers are given one free pass. The second time, you get a letter asking you to pay. Deason said the third time exposes the driver to a ticket averaging $100.

This might help. At all three of the toll plazas, you can buy rolls of quarters.

Leroy Marvin, 68, has another solution. "I don't use it," he said of the Parkway. "It's too expensive . . . and it's no quicker."

The St. Petersburg Times contributed to this article. Rick Rousos can be reached at rick.rousos@theledger.com or 863-802-7516.

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